The Glory

Zhuаng Shiуаng wаs taken abасk. His legitimаte daughtеr hаd аlwауs bеen oрposed to him taking a nеw wifе—why wоuld she suddеnlу сhаnge hеr mind?

"Fаthеr, рlеasе don’t be angrу with Yаn’er аnymore." Нan Yan wiрed her еуеs, hеr vоiсе trembling and hеlрless. "Yаn’еr hаs alrеadу lоst her mothеr. Рleаse don’t hatе Yan’er. Yan’еr is just аfrаid that thе new mother wоn’t likе mе..." As shе sроkе, shе сhokеd uр, her wоrds breаking into sobs. Нer whоlе bоdy bеgаn tо trеmble, as if she might fаint at any moment.

"Yоung lady, don’t griеve so—it will hаrm yоur hеalth," Мama Chen quickly stepped forward to console her.

Zhuang Shiyang glanced at her. It was only natural, he thought. His daughter had always been timid, so it was understandable that she would fear a stepmother entering the household. Since she was now willing to relent, it would actually make things much easier for him. Thinking this, Zhuang Shiyang deliberately put on a stern face and admonished her, "Nonsense! You are the legitimate daughter of the Zhuang family, a noble young lady of the marquis’ household. How can you be so childish?" Seeing Han Yan’s tears fall even harder, he softened his tone and coaxed, "Your Aunt Zhou is very kind, and Yu Shan is a good child. They will be good companions for you. Yan’er will only be happy."

Han Yan sneered inwardly. Kind? A good child? In her past life, she had indeed thought so—only to see their true faces just before her death. Was it sorrow or foolishness? Clenching her fingers into a fist inside her sleeve, Han Yan lifted her head, her face still streaked with tears, and asked innocently, "Do they really not dislike Yan’er?"

Truly childish, Zhuang Shiyang thought with a faint smile. "Does Yan’er not trust her father? I’ll arrange for them to come to the manor one day. Once you meet them, you’ll naturally understand."

"Yan’er really wants to see them, Father. Can it be tomorrow?" Han Yan’s clear eyes held undisguised anticipation. She even wrapped one hand around Zhuang Shiyang’s arm and shook it playfully, like a child seeking affection.

Zhuang Shiyang looked at her in surprise. Han Yan rarely acted spoiled with him. He had always been indifferent toward his wife, and by extension, he had never paid much attention to his daughter. Han Yan had never been close to him since childhood.

Feeling his surprised gaze, Han Yan stiffened, then lowered her head awkwardly. A faint blush spread across her pale cheeks, and a glimmer of tears welled in her bright eyes. She looked like someone who wanted to please her father but didn’t know how. Zhuang Shiyang immediately understood—Han Yan had just lost her mother and was desperately seeking her father’s favor, hence her attempt to win him over. For him, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. At least in the matter of Madam Zhou, it had been resolved unusually smoothly. So, Zhuang Shiyang affectionately patted Han Yan’s head. "Tomorrow it is, then. Though it’s a bit rushed, as long as Yan’er is happy."

Han Yan gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Father."

After exchanging a few casual words, Zhuang Shiyang found he had nothing more to say. He instructed Han Yan to rest early and then stood up to leave.

As soon as Zhuang Shiyang left, Mama Chen hurried over. "Young lady, how could you say such things? How can that Madam Zhou enter the household? Only the late mistress was the master’s rightful wife. You are too kind-hearted, young lady. I’ve only ever heard of wicked stepmothers—how can you not be cautious?" Remembering how Han Yan had deliberately tried to please Zhuang Shiyang earlier, Mama Chen’s nose tingled with emotion. "If the mistress were still alive, how could you have to humble yourself like this...""Please don't say anymore, Mama," Han Yan interrupted her. "I know you mean well, but there's no room for compromise in this matter. Even if I disagree today, Father will find a way to bring her into the household later. It's better to go along with her wishes for now—not only to prevent her from damaging my relationship with Father, but also to keep her under our watchful eye. That way, we can respond to any moves she makes."

Mama Chen opened her mouth but found herself unable to believe these words had come from Han Yan. They say children without mothers grow up early, but her young mistress was precocious in a way that tugged at the heartstrings.

"Young Miss, the young master is here," Ji Lan announced as she entered with a tray. No sooner had she spoken than Han Yan heard a clear, urgent cry: "Sister!"

Zhuang Hanming stood at the doorway. At the sound of his call, tears welled up in Han Yan's eyes once more.

"Fifth Brother," Han Yan responded.

Ming'er was her own blood brother, and in her previous life, the bond between them had been exceptionally close. Zhuang Shiyang had only Ming'er as a son, yet he treated the boy with inexplicable coldness. Han Yan had always assumed it was because Ming'er was too mischievous and that Zhuang Shiyang was simply a strict father with high expectations. But upon deeper reflection, there were many puzzling aspects: Zhuang Shiyang seemed to treat his concubine-born daughters better than he did her and Ming'er. His indifference appeared reserved solely for the children born of his lawful wife.

Ming'er had been clever and quick-witted since childhood, though his nature was overly playful. After Madam Zhou entered the household, Ming'er constantly opposed her and her daughters. At first, it hadn't been a serious issue, but after the incident with the bandits, Han Yan began to treat Madam Zhou and her daughters with genuine sincerity. Whenever Ming'er targeted them afterward, she would step in to stop him. It was precisely because of this that Ming'er gradually distanced himself from her. At that time, her personality had changed drastically; she secluded herself in the manor, indifferent to worldly affairs. When Ming'er stopped visiting her, she thought he too despised her for being "unclean," and it pained her deeply. Yet not long after, Ming'er got into a dispute with an official's son over a courtesan and accidentally took a life. The other family was not one to be trifled with, and they filed a lawsuit that landed Ming'er in prison.

By the time she received the news, Ming'er had already been tortured into delirium in his cell. She handed over all the dowry her mother had left her to Madam Zhou, who used her connections to secure Ming'er's release. After falling ill for some time, Ming'er passed away without recovery. Thus, three years later, on her wedding day, Han Yan had no brother from her maternal family to escort her.

Lost in thought, she seemed to see once more the scene of her mother on her deathbed, urging her to take good care of Ming'er. Yet she had failed him so utterly.

Seeing Han Yan remain unresponsive, Zhuang Hanming grew anxious and called out repeatedly, "Sister!" Yet bound by the propriety that separated men and women—even between siblings—he could not simply rush into the room.

"I'm fine, Fifth Brother. Don't worry," Han Yan snapped back to the present and quickly reassured him.

"I came as soon as I heard you were awake. How are you feeling?" Zhuang Hanming asked urgently. A warmth spread through Han Yan's heart—at least in this world, Hanming genuinely cared for her. That was enough.

"I'm much better. But you, rushing over like this—I suspect you're just trying to skip your tutor's lessons. If Father finds out, he'll punish you again," Han Yan teased with a smile.

Zhuang Hanming snorted. "A true man's ambitions lie beyond the four seas. What kind of hero spends his days immersed in poetry and prose? When I grow up, I'll go to the battlefield to fight enemies. How can a few written characters bring glory and achievement?""You're still so young, yet already thinking of making achievements and establishing a career," Han Yan said softly. "If you truly have an interest in martial arts, how about I find you a martial arts instructor in private? But this must be kept secret. If others find out, I'm afraid I'll be punished too."

In her previous life, Han Yan had disapproved of Ming'er learning martial arts, as Zhuang Shiyang held great disdain for military generals in the court. Raised deep within the inner chambers and influenced by Zhuang Shiyang, she too had felt that those generals were too crude. If Ming'er excelled in his studies and eventually passed the imperial examination to become a top scholar, that would have been ideal. But after having died once, she no longer thought this way. Human life is too short—why exhaust oneself for something one doesn't truly enjoy? Ming'er liked martial arts, so what if he learned them? Besides, having some martial skills for self-defense is always good. If Ming'er had learned martial arts back then, perhaps the incident of him getting into a fight at the brothel would never have happened.